Bucket and bucket arm control for booms



Jan. 27, 1959 M. c. WILLS BUCKET AND BUCKET ARM CONTROL FOR BOOMS FiledJan. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l R u M W H 1/ m 4, M w (I M A BY 1' I Jan.27, 1959 M. c. WILLS BUCKET AND BUCKET ARM CONTROL FOR BOOMS Filed Jan.1a, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVEN TOR Mar/00 (2 (MY/5 BY 4 AVTOPNEV UnitedStates Patent AND BUCKET ARM CONTROL 1 FOR BooMs Application January.16, 1956, Serial No. 559,483

' 2Claims. Cl. 214-138) BUCKET This invention relates to materialhandling equipment embodying a movable boom upon which is operablymounted a swingable bucket or other material-handling device, theprimary object being to provide novel structure for actuating the saidbucket not only with respect to a bucket arm upon which it is mounted,but with respect to the aforementioned boom.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provideincreased leverage and highly maneuverable control for earth handlingbuckets and the like not only through use of a pair of push-pulldevices, but through employment of novel linkage which functionsautomatically to control the bucket as the result of swinging out thearm with respect to the boom.

A further object of this invention is to provide means associated withthe said linkage for swinging the bucket relative to its arm andindependently of the movement of the arm with respect to the boom.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of earth handling equipment embodyingbucket and bucket arm control means for booms made pursuant to thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view illustrating theuppermost end of the boom shown in Fig. 1 and associated parts.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view showing the bucket andbucket arm.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2 showing the assembly in anelevated position; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line VV of Fig.4. t

The equipment illustrated in its entirety by Fig. 1 of the drawings, isadapted for mounting on a tractor or the like 10, and when placed inuse, the weight thereof is normally supported in part by ground-engaginglegs 12 controlled by double-acting, hydraulic-piston and cylinderassemblies 14.

A head, broadly designated by the numeral 16, is

pull devices pivotally connected to the boom 20 between head 16 andpivot 26, through the medium of a bracket 30 rigidly attached to theboom 20. Such devices include a pair of double-action, hydraulic pistonand cylinder units 32 and 34 respectively, which are in turn connectedwith the arm 24 on opposite sides of the bracket 28 by brackets 36 and38 respectively, rigid to the arm 24.

A material handling device such 'as a bucket 40, is swingably secured tothe arm 24 at that end thereof opposite to bracket 38 through the mediumof a pivot 42. Bucket 40 is controlled or swung with respect to the arm24 primarily by actuation of a double-acting, hydraulic piston-cylinderassembly 44 pivotally connected to a rearwardly-extending bracket 46 onthe bucket 40.

The bucket 40 is caused to swing with respect tothe arm 24 independentlyof the action of assembly 44 by virtire of a linkage arrangement which,by virtue of the inclusion of the assembly 44, pivotally interconnectsbucket 40, arm 24 and boom 20. Such linkage includes a pair of links 48swingably secured to the outermost free end of the boom 20 by opposedpivot pins 50, together with a pair of links 52 pivotally connected tobracket 36. The links 48 are not joined to the arm 24 as is clear inFig. 5, but pivotally connect with the assembly 44 and with the links 52through a common pivot pin 54.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that when the arm 24 is to be swungdownwardly with respect to the'boom 20, a pulling action is imparted tothe arm 24 by operation of the unit 32 while the unit 34 simultaneouslyimparts a pushing action to the arm 24. Conversely, when the arm 24 isswung upwardly relative to the boom 20, the unit 32 pushes on the arm 24while the unit 34 imparts a pulling action thereto.

, 24 causes the bucket 40 to swing upwardly and, conversely, the bucket40 is pulled downwardly and inwardly relative to the arm24 when thelatter is rotated clockwise relative to the boom 20.

Notwithstanding such automatic operation of the bucket 40, the user ofthe machine may independently control mounted for swinging movement onits vertical axis and such swinging movement is effected throughemployment of a pair of opposed double-acting, hydraulic cylinder andpiston assemblies, one of which is seen in Fig. 1 and designated broadlyby the numeral 18. The head 16 pivotally mounts and supports avertically swingable boom 20 controlled by hydraulic-cylinder assembly22. The aforementioned components of the machine form no part of theinstant invention and, therefore, have not been detailed.

The boom 20 mounts an elongated arm 24 for swinging movement relative tothe boom 20 through the medium of a pivot pin 26 spaced from theoutermost or uppermost end of the boom 20 as best illustrated in Figs. 4and 5, the pivot pin 26 in turn receiving a bracket 28 rigid to the arm24 intermediate the ends of the latter. It is noted in Fig. 5 that theuppermost end of the boom 20 is bifurcated for clearing the arm 24 inits swinging movement about the axis of pivot means 26.

Swinging of the arm 24 is effected by a pair of pushintermediate theends of the latter; a double-action, hy-

the bucket 40 by actuation of the assembly 44. All of these independentcontrols render the entire machine highly maneuverable when consideredwith the action of the boom 20 itself through control 22 therefor, andthe way in which the entire unit is adapted to swing horizontal- 'lythrough use of control means 18. i a

It is possible for example, to dig relatively deep excavations and atthe same time raise the excavated material contained in the bucket 40 torelatively flat heights for dumping as may be desired. Operatorsbecoming skilled in the use of the machine can expertly form walls ofditches and the like and handle dirt and other materials in a manner tomove the same to desired positions, all without necessitating periodicchanging of the position of tractor 10.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

boom swingably mounting the arm on the boom; 21 material handling deviceswingably. mounted on the arm; a

first link pivotally connected to the boom at said one end thereof; asecond link pivotally connected to the arm Patented Jan. 27, 1959and=said1assembly progressivelytand continually increasingzthepanglebetweenthe device. and the arm when-the latter is'swnng-in one directionand progressively and continuously'decreasing said angle when the arm isswung in the opposite; direction.

, 2. Jnatmachine-ofthe kind described, the combination ofal'boom;anvarm; means spaced from-one end of the boom :s'wingablymounting thearm on theboom intermediate the-ends of the arm; a pair'ofdouble-action, hydraulic piston and cylinder units, 'each'pivotallyconnected to the :boom and each pivotally attached to the arm, oneoneach side respectively of said means for swinging the armrelative tothe boom; a material handling device swingably mounted on the arm; afirst link pivotally connected to the boom at said one end thereof;a'second linkpivotally connected to the arm intermediate 25870592&

the ends of the latter;lahdoubleraction, hydraulic -piston.

and cylinder assembly pivotally connected to the material handlingdevice; and pivot means interconnecting the links and the assembly forswinging the material handling device relative to the arm in response toswinging of the arm relative to the boom, said S-links .iand saidassembly progressively and. continually increasing .the angle betweenthe material handling device ,andthe arm when the latter is swung in onedirection and progressively and continuously decreasing said :angle when{the arm isjswung in-the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED'S-TATES PATENTS

